Railway car coupler with laterally movable control



RAILWAY CAR COUPLER WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE CONTROL Filed Feb. 25, 1960 Aug. 22, 1961 w. J. METZGER 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY W/LL/AM J. METZGEE Afro/aw y Aug. 22, 1961 w. J. METZGER RAILWAY CAR COUPLER WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE CONTROL Filed Feb. 25, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY MAL/14M J METZGzF/Q /4rro/aA/y United tates Patent 2,997,184 RAEWAY CAR COUPLER WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE CQNTROL William .I. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company,

Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,174 '10 Claims. (Cl. 213-162) This invention relates to mechanism for actuating or lifting the lock of a railway car coupler. It is of particular utility in adapting a coupler including a vertically movable lock for operation by an operating rod which is pulled in a transverse outboard direction relative to the length of the associated railway car.

In certain industrial uses of railway cars, e.g., in carrying molds or other containers while they receive molten metal poured from a vessel supported independently of the cars, the couplers are frequently rendered inoperative because of their exposure at the ends of the cars and consequent damage, clogging, or jamming sustained by the coupler-operating mechanism through the falling of heavy objects, molten metal or slag, or through accumulation of cementitious materials thereon. In general, the conventional lock-lifting mechanism includes an exposed rotor and a lock lifter partially exposed exteriorly of the coupler along its top surface. The rotor is pivotable about a generally horizontal axis extending transversely of the car length. To construct the coupler head with a housing adequately covering such exposed mechanism entails the manufacture of a cast-ing of excessive bulk and expense. Moreover, the coupler would be rendered more difficult to assemble and more difficult to connect with the conventional operating rod. Under-coupler lockoperating mechanisms are not favored in private industrial use because of the possibility of damage from debris lying on the track bed.

Thus, a primary object of this invention is to provide a car coupler having lock-lifting mechanism of compact design, and to provide shielding structure for such mechanism integrated with the head structure of the coupler.

Another object is to provide a coupler that may be used on cars for handling molten material or other materials with respect to which human proximity is hazardous, such coupler being constructed in a manner permitting an operator, for example, to stand away from one side of the car while operating the coupler thereof by pulling on the operating rod of the car with a pole having an eye or hook portion.

A further object is to provide a coupler having novel lock-lifting mechanism enabling operation by manual force applied horizontally and laterally outwardly from the coupler and providing anti-creep protection.

The above objects, and others to be apparent from the following description, are achieved in a coupler comprising a head, a lock arranged within the head for reciprocation between a lower position for securing the coupler against unlocking and an upper unlocking position, a link extending upwardly from a pivotal connection thereof with the lock, and a lock-operating mechanism for translating pulling force applied horizontally and laterally outwardly away from the coupler into lifting force on the look. This mechanism, which embodies the more novel features of the invention, comprises a lever which extends from an axis along which the lever is pivotally supported by a pin or other means to and through the link at a point above the lock. The axis is horizontally offset with respect to the lock and in generally parallel relation with the length of the coupler. In its simplest form, the lever comprises an arm which, in extending from its pivotal axis to and through the link, and at its downwardmost position, extends under a downward-facing abutment portion of the head. The mechanism further comprises lever means, such as a second arm of the abovementioned lever, or an additional lever, responsive to the above-mentioned force for swinging the first mentioned lever upwardly. The first lever is rotatable to a limited extent in the longitudinal direction of the coupler about an axis of rotation.

The lever means is arranged with respect to the arm connected with the link so that the above mentioned pulling force pivots this arm about the second axis out of underlying relation with the abutment portion before it may engage the overhanging abutment. In the absence of such pulling force, the lever undergoes pivotal movement solely about its first-named axis upwardly against the abutment if the lock is forced upwardly by a force not transmitted thereto through the lever system. This latter feature prevents undesired movement of the lock to its unlocking position when jolted upwardly relative to the head.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a knuckle-type coupler incorporating one embodiment of the present invention with front-facing upper wall portions of the coupler head broken away to expose the lock-lifting system.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the head of a coupler illustrated in FIG. 1 with the top wall of the housing for said mechanism removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lever illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as a part of the lock-lifting mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the lever shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the lever of FIGS. 3 and 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in section taken of the hub portion of the lever as viewed along plane from numeral VIVI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a housing for the locking mechanism of FIGS. 1 and 2 as viewed in a transverse horizontal direction of the coupler.

FIG. 8 is a side elevation partly in longitudinal section of the coupler illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of a knuckletype coupler with front-facing upper wall portions of the coupler head removed to expose a modified lock-lifting mechanism at coupler-locking position.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary front elevation in section showing the lock-lifting mechanism of FIG. 9 at couplerunlock-ing position.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lever of the locklifting mechanism of FIGS. 9 and 10 adapted for connection with a coupler-operating rod.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lever of the locklifting mechanism of FIGS. 9 and 10' adapted to cooperate with the lever of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary cross section of the hub portion of the lever of FIG. 12 taken along plane X1II XIII.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the hub portion of FIG. 13 as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the passageway therethrough.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevation of the housing for the mechanism of FIGS. 9 to 14 as viewed in a transverse horizontal direction of the coupler.

Embodiment A FIGS. 1 to 8 illustrate one embodiment of the invention employing a lock-lifting mechanism characterized by a single bell crank type lever 5 pivotally mounted in the head 6 of the knuckle-type coupler 7. The lever 5 is supported by a pin '8 extending through appropriate apertures therefor in the side walls .19 and 11 of a shroud or housing 12 for shielding the lock-lifting mechanism.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pin 8 extends longitudinally along an axis MM of rotation for the lever 5 which is approximately parallel to the longitudinal or pulling axis iN-N of the coupler. In these figures, it is also obvious that the axis MM is laterally and horizontally offset with respect to the lock of the coupler. The lock is interconnected with the lever 5 by a link 16 which has a lower opening for receiving a bridge element 17 extending between spaced opposing surfaces defining a recess in the upper body portion of the lock. Link 16 has an opening 18 in the upper portion thereof receiving the hook-end portion of an arm 19 of the lever 5 extending from the hub portion 20 and the axis MM transversely relative to the coupler length.

The hub 20 of the lever 5 provides a passageway 22 for receiving the pin 8. Except for a circular transverse cross section of the passageway containing an axis PP running transversely to the length of the passageway or axis MM of the pin 8, the passageway is of generally non-circular cross section at any point along its length. The non-circular cross sections of the passageway are elongated along a plane VIVI providing the plane of cross section for FIG. 6. Longitudinal axes S-S and R-R both lie in the plane VIVI and the angle between these two axes generally represents the angle through which the arm 19 of the lever 5 may swing in the longitudinal direction of the coupler to be retracted outwardly from under a downwardly-facing abutment shoulder 24 in integral relation with the coupler head structure. This range of movement is further indicated by the arrow 25 extending from the under-shoulder position of the arm 19 to the retracted position shown in ghost outline in FIG. 2.

In the under-shoulder position, the axis S4 of the lever coincides with the axis MM of the pin 8; in the fully-retracted position, the axis R-R of the lever coincides approximately with the axis MM.

In raising the lock 15 by pulling on the lever 5 in the direction of the arrow 27 (see FIG. 1), a torsion force is exerted on the lever about the axis PP tending to bring the axis R-R thereof into alignment with the axis MM of the pin. In another manner of speaking, a pull in the direction of arrow 27 on the arm 28 of the lever is exerted on the lever at one side of a plane containing the axis P-P and the point of connection of the arm with the link 16. As the lever swings about axis PP, the link is straightened from its forwardly tilted position shown in FIG. 8 to a more perpendicular position wherein the point of connection between the arm 19 and the link is more directly over the bridge element 17 of the lock. Assistance in shifting the arm 19 from underneath the abutment 24 is also derived from the initial forward tilt of the link. As shown in FIG. 1, the lever arm 19 and the link 16 may be raised to a point wherein they engage the top wall 31 of the housing 12.

The present invention further provides means for positively shifting the lever 5 from the alignment of its axis R--R along axis MM to the at-rest alignment shown in full line in FIG. 2, wherein axis SS is aligned along axis M-M of the pin as occurs during descent of the lock 15 from fully raised unlocking position to its locking position. For this purpose, the coupler head is provided with an upwardly inclined cam surface 33 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) disposed directly under the position occupied by the arm 19 at its upward unlocking position. The surface 33 has sufiicient magnitude in the longitudinal direction of the coupler to deflect the arm 19 into vertical underlying relation with the downwardly-facing surface 34 of the abutment 24. Such longitudinal magnitude of the surface 33 will correspond approximately to the range of angular movement of the arm about the axis PP.

Respecting anti-creep operation, the forward tilt of the link 16 relative to the bridge element 17 shown in FIG. 8 makes obvious the manner in which an upward force transmitted through the link from the lock is exerted on the arm 19 in the forward longitudinal direction of the coupler. Such a force tends to drive the arm against a transverse vertical surface 35 disposed below the abutment surface 34, as well as upwardly against the abutment surface. Thus, the structure just described has the function of stopping upward kinetic movements of the lock and, hence, would be termed by the trade as an anti-creep mechanism.

Embodiment B FIGS. 9 to 15 illustrate a modified mechanism for lock lifting which differs from embodiment A primarily in the addition of a second lever. This lever enables more effective operation of the mechanism through lever-arm multiplication. Similarly to embodiment A, the locklifting mechanism of embodiment B comprises a lever 5b supported pivotally on a pin 8b with its arm 1% extending from the hub portion 20b transversely of the coupler length, toward and through the upper opening 18 of the link 16. The latter, of course, is connected with the lock 15 as hereinbefore described with respect to embodiment A. The hub portion 2012 has a passageway 41]) which may be of circular cross section at a point along its length at which an axis VV extends transversely centrally through the passageway in perpendicular relation to a pair of intersecting longitudinal axes T-T and UU. These longitudinal axes lie in a plane XIII-XIII along which any transverse cross section of the passageway 41!) at either side of the axis VV is elongated to provide freedom of pivotal movement of the lever 5b relative to the pin 8b. By this arrangement, the arm 19b is swingable, at its lower position, out of underlying relation with the abutment surface 34b in the manner described with respect to embodiment A.

The lever 5b is forcibly pivoted with respect to the pins axis XX and the axis VV transverse thereto by a second lever 40 comprising an arm 42 which remains at all times underneath the arm 19b, and another arm 43. The arm 43 has an opening 44 adapted for receiving the hook-end of a link 47. The lever 40 has a hub portion 49 providing a bore 50 by which the lever is pivotally mounted on a pin 48. This latter pin is aligned longitudinally along an axis YY spaced from the axis XX of pin 8b. In order to achieve greater leverage multiplication than in the mechanism of embodiment A, the arm 43 of lever 40 is longer than the arm 42 and the axis YY of the lever is located closer to the lock 15 than the axis XX of the lever 5b. As shown, the axis YY is disposed generally parallel to axis XX between two vertical planes, one containing axis X-X and the other containing the connection of the lever arm 19b with the link 16.

At locked condition of the coupler, the arm 19b extends immediately over the arm 42 of lever 40 in superposition with a cam surface 46a defined by a lug 46. When the lever 40 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (see FIGS. 9 and 10) from its position of rest corresponding to the locked condition of the coupler, the cam surface 46a engages the underside of the arm 19b. This arm is thereby urged about the axis VV in the longitudinal direction of the coupler from underneath the abutment surface 34b and then is free to rotate upwardly within the housing 12b and past the abutment to continue lifting of the lock 1512. As the cam surface 46a completes pivotal movement of lever 40 relative to axis VV, the arm 19b rests upon the upwardly facing surface 45 of arm 42 during the remainder of the locklifting stroke of the mechanism. When the link 47 is released from its coupler unlocking position, the lever 40 drops free of the lever 5b to its position of rest shown in FIG. 9. As the lever 5b returns to its lowermost position by its own Weight and that of the lock and the link, it is pivoted or cammed forward under the abutment 24b by sliding engagement with the rearwardly and upwardly inclined surface 331:. As the lock becomes seated in its locking position, the lever 5b and the link 16 settle into relaxed condition with the connection of the link and the lever disposed forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the coupler with respect to a path followed by the connection of the link and the lock in movements between locking and unlocking positions.

The foregoing description describes the side-pull-type coupler-operating mechanism of the invention in combination with the knuckle type couplers comprising vertically reciprocal locks. The adaptation of these mechanisms to other automatic couplers having gravity or spring-actuated locking systems to provide side-pull operation is deemed to be obvious from this disclosure to those skilled in the art.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention of excluding such equivalents of the invention described or the portions thereof as fall Within the purview of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A coupler having a head, a lock vertically reciprocable between a lower position for locking the coupler against uncoupling and an upper unlocking position, a link extending upwardly from a pivotal connection thereof with the lock, and a lock-operating mechanism comprising: a lever and means pivotally supporting the lever on the head along an axis in horizontally offset relation with the lock and generally parallel relation with the length of the coupler, said lever comprising an arm extending from said axis transversely of the coupler length through said link; the head having abutment means having a downwardly-facing surface overhanging said arm in a position thereof permitting positioning of the lock in its locking position; said head having a vertical path for said arm beyond one end of the abutment means; means for mounting said lever in pivotable relation with said supporting means with respect to an axis in transverse adjacent relation with said first axis in a longitudinal direction of the coupler for swinging the lever out of underlying relation with said abutment means; and lever means disposed at one side of said second axis responsive to a horizontal force directed transversely outwardly relative to said coupler length for swinging said lever first about said second axis from underneath said abutment and then about said first axis to raise said arm along said path and said lock to said unlocking position.

2. The coupler of claim 1 comprising: a pin supported by the head with its longitudinal axis in generally coaxial relation with said first axis; said lever having a passageway accommodating said pin, one portion of the passageway being elongated in cross section transversely of the first axis relative to an adjacent portion along an approximate plane of symmetry for the passageway containing the first axis and extending perpendicularly to the second axis to enable said swinging of the lever relative to the pin in the longitudinal direction of the coupler.

3. The coupler of claim 1 wherein: said lever means is a second arm of said lever extending upwardly from said first-mentioned arm; the second arm comprises a portion adapted to connect with a horizontal pull rod; and said portion of the second arm isspaced upwardly from said first axis and a plane containing the second axis and the point of engagement of the first arm and the link, said arm portion disposed on the side of said plane in the direction in which said first arm pivots about the second axis toward said path.

4. The coupler of claim 1 wherein: the head has a cam surface inclined upwardly and in said longitudinal direction of the coupler, and the cam surface is horizontally offset to a substantial extent in said longitudinal direction, and downwardly offset, with respect to said abutment surface.

5. The coupler of claim 1 wherein: said lever means is a second lever mounted pivotally on the head and has an arm extending under a portion of said arm of the first lever spaced from the first axis; said arm of the second lever has a cam surface underlying the arm of the first lever at the downwardmost position of both levers; and said cam surface faces upwardly and diagonally with respect to a vertical direction and said longitudinal direction of the coupler for moving said arm of the first lever out of underlying relation with the abutment means.

6. The coupler of claim 5 wherein: said levers are mounted on different axes and the axis of the second lever is closer to the connection of said link and said arm of the first lever.

7. The coupler of claim 6 wherein: the axes are approximately parallel.

8. The coupler of claim 5 comprising: a housing fixed to the head and enclosing a region within which said levers are reciprocable, said housing having a generally horizontal top wall; the second lever consisting of a bell crank comprising a second arm adapted for attachment to an external operating rod; the pivotal axis for the second lever extending adjacent the bottom of said region approximately parallel to the axis of the first lever; both of said levers being related to dispose the end portion of said arm of the first lever projecting through the link, and the end of the second arm of the second lever remote from the axis thereof, adjacent said top wall at the unlocking position of the lock.

9. The coupler of claim 1 wherein: the connection of the link with the lock follows a predetermined path in movement of the lock from locking position to unlocking position, and the connection of the link and said arm, in a condition of rest of said link and lever at said unlocking position, is oifset with respect to said path in the longitudinal direction of the coupler and positioned under said abutment means to assure engagement of the arm with the abutment means when forced upwardly by kinetic energy transmitted thereto from the lock.

10. The coupler of claim 5 wherein: the axis of the second lever is approximately parallel to the axis of the first lever and is located more closely to the connection of said arm of the first lever and the link between vertical parallel planes containing the axis of the first lever and said connection; and the second lever consists of a bell crank comprising said arm having the cam surface and a second arm substantially shorter than the arm of the first lever and longer than the arm with the cam surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

